Processing tray-solution heating system



July ll, 1967 G. R. DOLE 3,330,198

PROCESSING TRAY-SOLUTION HEATING SYSTEM Filed March 17, 1964 GILBERT R.DOLE INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,330,198 PROCESSING TRAY-SOLUTIONHEATING SYSTEM Gilbert R. Dole, Rochester, N.Y., assignor to EastmanKodak Company, Rochester, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Mar.17, 1964, Ser. No. 352,607 4 Claims. (Cl. 95-95) This invention relatesgenerally t-o a photographic copying apparat-us, and more specificallyto an improved processing tray-solution heating system for heating acold solution so that it enters the processing area of the tray at apredetermined processing temperature.

In a photographic copying apparatus in which an exposed sensitizedphotographic sheet is processed in a suitable processingr solution andwithdrawn in. pressure contact with a non-sensitized sheet to causetransfer of the image on the sensitized sheet to the unsensitized sheetupon separation thereof, it is necessary for optimum operating eiciencythat the temperature of the processing solution be raised above theambient temperature to a` predetermined value. In apparatus of thistype, a temperature variance in the processing solution of severaldegrees from the predetermined value may produce unsatisfactory results.In photographic copying apparatus of the type having a processingsolution repleuishing system in which the solution is pumped from thetray into a storage container after a processing operation, and thenpumped back into the tray prior to a subsequent processing operation,the processing solution cools off in the storage container necessitatingwarming the processing solution before it is recirculated into theprocessing tray. The improved processing tray-solution heating systemdisclosed herein accomplishes the stated objective of returning thecooled processing solution to the processing tray at a predeterminedtemperature.

Accordingly, one of the primary objects of this invention is to providean improved processing tray-solution heating system for heating theprocessing solution to a predetermined temperature before it enters theprocessing area of the tray.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved processingsolution tray for a photographic copying apparatus.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide an improvedprocessing -tray-solution heating system for sensing the temperature ofthe solution as it enters the tray, and directing the -solution along atortuous path where it is heated to a predetermined temperature beforeit enters the processing area of the tray.

Objects and advantages other than those set forth above will be apparentfrom the following description when read in connection wi-th theaccompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a tray-solution heating system constructedin accordance with one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2*2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a sectional View taken along line 3-3 of FIG. l; and

FIG. 4 is an electrical wiring diagram for the traysolution heatingsystem of this invention.

Referring to the drawings, a preferred embodimentiof a tray-solutionheating system according to the present invention is disclosed inFIG. 1. A ltray 5, which may be formed from molded plastic parts,comprises a boxlike housing having a base 6, four walls 7, 8, 9 and 10extending upwardly from base 6, and a cover 11 interconnecting three ofsaid walls 7, 8 and 9. The cover 11 cooperates with walls 7, 8 and 9 toform a storage recep- 3,330,198 Patented July 11, 1967 tacle 12 in whichnon-sensitized sheets of copy paper, not shown, are stacked. The housinghas a horizontal partition 13 parallel to cover 11, as best seen in FIG.2, for dividing tray 5 into a processing chamber 14 in which asensitized sheet such as a matrix, not shown, may be developed orprocessed, and a processing solution Warrning chamber 15. The front end16 4of cover 11 terminates a short distance from the front end of tray5, and cooperates with partition 13 to form an opening through which amatrix can be inserted into processing chamber 14. One end of partition13 is secured to a shoulder 17 (see FIG. 2) -on wall 8 by any suitablemeans, and its opposite end forms a ribbed ramp 18 which facilitatesdrainage into processing chamber 14 of processing solution that spillsoff the matrix as it is withdrawn from the processing chamber.

The outer boundary of the processing solution warming chamber 15 isformed by the aforementioned base 6 and four walls 7-10 of the housing.Another pair of spaced apart, walls 19, 21 (see FIG. 3) extendingupwardly from base 6, cooperates with partition 13 to form a U-s-hapedenclosure for a heat sensing element 22 such as a thermostat. Thewarming chamber 15 is provided with a plurality of vertical walls orpartitions 23, 24, 25, 27 and 28 `interconnecting base 6 and partition13 (see FIG. 3). Some of the vertical partitions 23 have one of theirends secured to the rear wall 8 of tray 5 which forms one end of warmingchamber 15, and their opposite ends spaced a short distance from wall 10forming the opposite end of chamber 15. Another group of partitions 24extend from the aforementioned wall 10 with their opposite ends spacedfrom wall 8. Another group of partitions 25 have lone of their endsconnected to wall 8 and their opposite ends spaced from an inner wall 26(see FIG. 2) adjacent the aforementioned wall 10. Another group ofpartitions 27 extend from wall 26 with their outer ends spaced from wall8. A short partition 28 connects the passageway between wall 26 and wall10 Ito a vertical conduit 29 having an opening 31 through which solutionmay be introduced into chamber 15 by any suitable means such as a pump,or the like, not shown. All of the partitions 23, 24, 25, 27 and 28, andwalls 7-10, 19 and 21 cooperate to form a labyrinth of passageways todirect the processing solution. The solution is pumped into chamber 15through opening 31 between walls 10 and 26 along the front of chamber 15and is forced towards the center thereof (see arrows in FIG. 1) and thentowards the rear of chamber 15 splitting into two paths around thethermostat enclosure 19, 21. The processing -solution continues -totravel along the two paths in the direction of the arrows, and entersprocessing chamber 14 through a pair of openings 32 in partition 13 asseen best in FIGS. l and 2. A commer` cially available heating element33 such as a Calrod type heater is positioned underneath tray 5 andsubstantially in the -center of the tray as seen in FIG. 3 and iscontrolled by thermostat 22 as seen lin FIG. 4. The coils of heatingelement 33 are formed so that they are far enough removed fromthermostat 22 so as not to interfere with its sensitivity to thetemperature of lthe solution in the immediate surrounding passageways towhich thermostat 22 is responsive. If desired, an insulating barrier 20may be interposed between heating element 33 and thermostat 22. If theprocessing solution introduced into the the warming chamber 15 throughopening 31 is at a temperature below that required for optimum operatingeiiciency, this fact is sensed by thermostat 22 which closes an internalswitch, not shown, connecting the power to heating element 33. Thetemperature of the solution adjacent thermostat 22 would be quicklyraised by heating element 33 to the temperature set by thermostat 22.The .heating element 33 is turned off by thermostat 22, and thiscondition exists until the tempertaure of the solution adjacent thethermostat due to more incoming solution is decreased to a valuesuicient to reactivate @thermostat 22 to call for more heat. Thisalternating onagain-off again action of thermostat 22 and heatingelement 33 continues causing the cold solution, as it progresses backand forth several times over heating element 33, to be heated to theproper operating temperature before it enters processing chamber 14through openings 32.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference toa preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood thatvariations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scopeof the invention as described hereinabove, and as deiined in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a processing tray-solution heating system for heating a coldsolution fed into the tray to a predetermined processing temperaturebefore it reaches the processing area of the tray, the combinationcomprising:

a tray having processing and warming chambers, and

an opening therebetween to provide hydraulic cornmunication between thetwo;

said warming chamber comprising first wall means dening a mainpassageway for a solution introduced therein, second wall means definingan enclosure for dividing said main passageway into two separateauxiliary passageways, and third wall means hydraulically connected tosaid auxiliary passageways for extending said auxiliary passageways toguide said solution fed thereinto along tortuous paths to said openingfor travel into said processing chamber;

heat sensing means disposed adjacent said enclosure for sensing thetemperature of solution passing thereby; and

heating means responsive to said heat sensing means for applyingsuicient heat to said warming cham- 4- ber for heating said solution toa predetermined temperature as it travels along said main and auxiliarypassageway and the extension thereof. 2. The invention according toclaim 1 wherein said 5 processing chamber is above and in register withsaid warming chamber.

3. In a tray for a processing solution or the like, the combinationcomprising:

a box-like housing having a base; a partition for dividing said housinginto upper and lower chambers; said partition having openings therein toprovide hyhydraulic communication -between said chambers; and said lowerchamber having a plurality of spaced apart walls extending between saidbase and partition, two of which form a main passageway for a solutionintroduced therein, two of which form an enclosure cooperating with saidmain passageway for dividing said main passageway into two separateauxiliary passageways, and the remaining walls forming an extension tosaid auxiliary passageways for guiding said solution along tortuouspaths to said openings for travel into said upper chamber. 4. Theinvention according to 4claim 3 wherein said housing has a cover, andsaid cover cooperates with said housing to form a storage receptacle forsheets of paper.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,232,998 2/1941 Cernohouz et al.95-96 XR 2,930,306 3/1960 Goodman 95-96 3,054,340 9/1962 Limberger 95-893,124,051 3/1964 Buechner 95-96 NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

CLIFFORD B. PRICE, Examiner.

I. F. PETERS, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A PROCESSING TRAY-SOLUTION HEATING SYSTEM FOR HEATING A COLDSOLUTION FED INTO THE TRAY TO A PREDETERMINED PROCESSING TEMPERATUREBEFORE IT REACHES THE PROCESSING AREA OF THE TRAY, THE COMIBATIONCOMPRISING: A TRAY HAVING PROCESSING AND WARMING CHAMBERS, AND ANOPENING THEREBETWEEN TO PROVIDE HYDRAULIC COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE TWO;SAID WARMING CHAMBER COMPRISING FIRST WALL MEANS DEFINING A MAINPASSAGEWAY FOR A SOLUTION INTRODUCED THEREIN, SECOND WALL MEANS DEFININGAN ENCLOSURE FOR DIVIDING SAID MAIN PASSAGEWAY INTO TWO SEPARATEAUXILIARY PASSAGEWAYS, AND THIRD WALL MEANS HYDRAULICALLY CONNECTED TOSAID AUXILIARY PASSAGEWAYS FOR EXTENDING SAID AUXILIARY PASSAGEWAYS TOGUIDE SAID SOLUTION FED THEREINTO ALONG TORTUOUS PATHS TO SAID OPENINGFOR TRAVEL INTO SAID PROCESSING CHAMBER; HEAT SENSING MEANS DISPOSEDADJACENT SAID ENCLOSURE FOR SENSING THE TEMPERATURE OF SOLUTION PASSINGTHEREBY; AND HEATING MEANS RESPONSIVE TO SAID HEAT SENSING MEANS FORAPPLYING SUFFICIENT HEAT TO SAID WARMING CHAMBER FOR HEATING SAIDSOLUTION TO A PREDETERMINED TEMPERATURE AS IT TRAVELS ALONG SAID MAINAND AUXILIARY PASSAGEWAY AND THE EXTENSION THEREOF.